Retreat Workshop Sessions
“We have become His poetry, a re-created “Pioneer” People
that will fulfill the destiny He has given each of us.
Ephesians 21 TPT
that will fulfill the destiny He has given each of us.
Ephesians 21 TPT
Workshop Sessions kick off each morning after devotions and each afternoon following our wagon trail luncheon. They are held in the main room for all attendees. A total of four Workshop Sessions address the key instructional focus of the retreat/workshop: to ENVISION your life as a writer, DEVELOP achievable manuscript goals, WORK with writing craft excellence, and a Bonus Session on how to confidently state your personal MISSION as a writer.
FridayAM Session 1: Pioneers with Pens—Mapping the Way
Instructor: Kathryn Ross and the Good News Christian Writers Retreat Staff
The initial Friday morning session lays a critical foundation for our 2-day retreat/workshop. Miss Kathy explores the pioneer spirit of a writer to commit to a writing life vision, set achievable goals, and employ craft excellence to fulfill God’s call as a skillful storyteller—telling His Story through their story. VISION is the key word in this first instructional session which features the Good News Christian Writers sharing their personal vision boards as examples. They detail, in words and images, the vision and goals for their writing life, ministry, and publication. A short tour of the Vision Board Workshop Center in the back of the room introduces attendees to the tools and physical materials available to begin work on their own vision board during the four Breakout Group Sessions. We encourage you to collect and cut out words and images throughout the two-day retreat in anticipation for Saturday afternoon’s Show & Tell Vision Commitment at the close of the retreat. Note: Only those who want to will be invited to share as time permits.
Instructor: Kathryn Ross and the Good News Christian Writers Retreat Staff
The initial Friday morning session lays a critical foundation for our 2-day retreat/workshop. Miss Kathy explores the pioneer spirit of a writer to commit to a writing life vision, set achievable goals, and employ craft excellence to fulfill God’s call as a skillful storyteller—telling His Story through their story. VISION is the key word in this first instructional session which features the Good News Christian Writers sharing their personal vision boards as examples. They detail, in words and images, the vision and goals for their writing life, ministry, and publication. A short tour of the Vision Board Workshop Center in the back of the room introduces attendees to the tools and physical materials available to begin work on their own vision board during the four Breakout Group Sessions. We encourage you to collect and cut out words and images throughout the two-day retreat in anticipation for Saturday afternoon’s Show & Tell Vision Commitment at the close of the retreat. Note: Only those who want to will be invited to share as time permits.
FridayPM Session 2: Pioneer Checklist—Nuts and Bolts of Goal Setting
Instructor: Tabatha Scheffler
Who better to instruct a session on goal setting than Tabatha, who juggles a host of demands and finds creative ways to make things happen. A writer can't just have a great vision full of ideas and good intentions. They need to pack their wagon with the tools necessary to turn their writing and publishing dreams into reality. Learn practical ways to map your vision and set achievable goals through time management, organization, and more, so you can move forward in every phase of the writing, editing, publishing, and marketing process.
Instructor: Tabatha Scheffler
Who better to instruct a session on goal setting than Tabatha, who juggles a host of demands and finds creative ways to make things happen. A writer can't just have a great vision full of ideas and good intentions. They need to pack their wagon with the tools necessary to turn their writing and publishing dreams into reality. Learn practical ways to map your vision and set achievable goals through time management, organization, and more, so you can move forward in every phase of the writing, editing, publishing, and marketing process.
SaturdayAM Session 3: Grammar Pitfalls on the Way—Writing Tech and Craft Excellence
Instructor: Kathryn Ross
When you've hit the writing trail, you need to keep your wagon maintained on the journey so as not to get your manuscript stuck in a pothole of sloppy, muddy work. Learn self-editing secrets to strengthen the correct use of language and grammar. Miss Kathy shows you how to navigate through difficult passages, avoid cluttered, rocky roads, and keep clear of rabbit trails so your story stays on a quality course for its publication destination.
Instructor: Kathryn Ross
When you've hit the writing trail, you need to keep your wagon maintained on the journey so as not to get your manuscript stuck in a pothole of sloppy, muddy work. Learn self-editing secrets to strengthen the correct use of language and grammar. Miss Kathy shows you how to navigate through difficult passages, avoid cluttered, rocky roads, and keep clear of rabbit trails so your story stays on a quality course for its publication destination.
SaturdayPM Session 4: State Your Mission!
Instructor: Linda Slomin
Learn how to distill into a single statement the vision and goals you’ve set for your writing. Answer the Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why of your mission—whether it’s for a project or ministry. Incorporate your Mission Statement into your Vision Board and get ready for Show & Tell.
Instructor: Linda Slomin
Learn how to distill into a single statement the vision and goals you’ve set for your writing. Answer the Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why of your mission—whether it’s for a project or ministry. Incorporate your Mission Statement into your Vision Board and get ready for Show & Tell.
SaturdayPM Closing: Show & Tell Mission Statement and Commitment
Instructor: Kathryn Ross and the Good News Christian Writers Retreat Staff
Closing out the day on Saturday, our Pioneers with Pens gather in the main room. You may volunteer to share your Mission Statement and Vision Board in the Show & Tell finale. Miss Kathy will wrap things up with a commission for all to seek new Wagon Train ways to stay connected and accountable on your writing journey for the words God has entrusted you to write. Prayer ministry follows as you are launched into your calling. Please don’t forget to drop off your Evaluation Form of the retreat and Restoration Family Farm.
Instructor: Kathryn Ross and the Good News Christian Writers Retreat Staff
Closing out the day on Saturday, our Pioneers with Pens gather in the main room. You may volunteer to share your Mission Statement and Vision Board in the Show & Tell finale. Miss Kathy will wrap things up with a commission for all to seek new Wagon Train ways to stay connected and accountable on your writing journey for the words God has entrusted you to write. Prayer ministry follows as you are launched into your calling. Please don’t forget to drop off your Evaluation Form of the retreat and Restoration Family Farm.
GOOD NEWS CHRISTIAN WRITERS RETREAT WORKSHOPS MISSION STATEMENT:
Under the umbrella of Pageant Wagon Publishing, Christian writers in Southern New Jersey gather at the annual
Good News Christian Writers Retreat and Workshop where they can quiet their souls and enrich their spirits
in a restful and creative atmosphere, to secure God’s vision for their work,
hone writing and communication skills, and critique multi-genre manuscripts for publication.
Learn how to tell His Story through your story, and bring the Light of God’s salty Good News
to the mountains of social and cultural influence.
Kathryn Ross, Retreat Director
Under the umbrella of Pageant Wagon Publishing, Christian writers in Southern New Jersey gather at the annual
Good News Christian Writers Retreat and Workshop where they can quiet their souls and enrich their spirits
in a restful and creative atmosphere, to secure God’s vision for their work,
hone writing and communication skills, and critique multi-genre manuscripts for publication.
Learn how to tell His Story through your story, and bring the Light of God’s salty Good News
to the mountains of social and cultural influence.
Kathryn Ross, Retreat Director